Shoe-protector.



J. BELLVILLE. SHOE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-20 I917.

1,297,062. Patented Mar. 11,1919.

- INVENTOR aw/ 70 fieilvz'llq ATTORNEY 1 mums unuspa.rnamummwumncrmln c4 JOSEPH BELLVILLE, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

SHOE-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 11, 1919.

Application filed August 20, 1917. Serial N 0. 187,210.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BELLVILLE, a

. citizen of the United States, and residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shoe protectors, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, including means particularly adapted for the use of lumbermen, whereby the wearer may have a secure footin on treacherous surfaces and be prevented rom slipping and probable injury.-

Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe sole protector which will prolong the life of the shoe, and is of such simple construction that the same may be readily manufactured at a minimum cost.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, including means whereby the heel of the shoe is protected from runmng over, since a portion of the protector serves the purpose of usual heel plates.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a protector, which when secured to the shoe of the wearer, is not visible, since the same conforms to the curvature of the shoe sole, and is secured to the underside of the sole.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the description, and wherein l1ke numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 shows a side view of a shoe with the device attached.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the device before being folded to fit the sole and heel of a shoe.

Fig. '3 is a similar view showing spurs attached thereto, and

Fig. 4 is a segmental side view of Fig. 2, showing the arrangement of the spurs.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 3 designates a shoe of any style or size.

My shoe protector consists of two continuous bands, an outer band 4, and an inner band 5, which are of similar shape and are secured to a shoe by nails, screws, pointed projections formed integral with the bands, or any other suitable means. These bands are of such a thickness, as to prevent the leather sole of the shoe, from coming into engagement with hard surfaces, but on soft surfaces these bands sink into the same and serve as a grip. It will be seen that these bands conform to the curvature of the sole and heel, and when applied to a shoe, are bent as shown at 6, to snugly fit the front of the heel and the instep. The band 4 is secured to the shoe sole a short distance from the edge, while the smaller band 5 is secured to the sole inside of the outer band. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of spaced spurs are attached to the two bands at the instep. These spurs vary in length; the longer ones are arranged adjacent the heel, while the others are diminished in len h according to their location with relation to the instep. This construction is essential, so as to allow the shoe to retain its normal position when the wearer is standing upon a level surface.

In use, the portions 8 of the bands prevent the longitudinal sliding of the shoe, while the other portions of the bands prevent any lateral slipping. Lumbermen find that the spurs 7 aid them greatly when walking, or jumping from one log to another as the instep or arch of the foot is the main support when the wearer has footing on a curved surface, such a log. It has also been found, that the bands form an efficient anti-slipping surface in this connection, as the bands grip the bark of the log.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A shoe protector including a plurality of spurs arranged upon the instep of the sole, said spurs varylng in length so that their lower ends lie in a plane passing through the tread surfaces of the heel and sole.

2. A shoe protector including a pair of continuous bands uniformly spaced apart and conforming to the curvature of the shoe sole and instep and secured thereto, and a plurality of spurs secured to the instep por tion of tread bands, said spurs varying in v length so that their lower ends lie in a plane 10 passing through the tread surfaces of the heel and sole.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JGSEPH BELLVI'LLE. Witnesses SARAH E. READING, WILLIAM P. DUNLAP,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

